Connector clip and method and apparatus for assembling units with said clip



May 9, 1967 J.. c. DE SHAZOR, JR 3,313,065

CONNECTOR CLIP AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING UNITS WITH SAIDCLIP Original Filed April 5, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JAMES C.DESHAZORJR.

j Mwk ATTORNEY J. c. DE SHAZOR, JR 3,318,065 R CLIP AND MET May 9, 1967CONNECTO HOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING UNITS WITH SAID CLIP OriginalFiled April 5, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES C. DESHAZOR,JR.

ATTOR N EY May 9, 1967 c. DE SHAZOR. JR 3,

CONNECTOR CLIP AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING UNITS WITH SAIDCLIP Original Filed April 5, 1963 10 Sheets-5heet 3 (III/m I i 24? y I243 294 29:, N y 25' 216 INVENTOR JAMES C, DESHAZOR, J R.

/ ATTORNEY 3,318,065 AND APPARATUS H SAID 0 y 1967 J. c. DE SHAZOR, .JR

CONNECTOR CLIP AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING UNITS WIT Original Filed April5, 1963 LIP l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 E OE m A K On VI O D E T M m g// m M 0 EN5w w E W /N// V .l D d/ $8 A c a \i S r E 8M I m KWN J .5 Non wom u mom:61 wmml wmm nmm

May 9, 1967 J. c. DE AZOR.

SH JR 3,318,065 CONNECTOR CLIP AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLINGUNITS WITH SAID CLIP Original Filed April :3, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ni; 1 M I H I :7 J, 356" P f 1 J M {I I ;i r Q 355 358 FIG. 9

I O 0 C) O ENTOR.

5 AT+EY INV 365 358 JAMES C. DESHAZOR, JR.

May 9, 1967 J. DE SHAZOR, JR 3, 1 CONNECTOR P AND METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR ASSEMBLING UNITS WITH SAID CLIP Original Filed April 3, 1963 10Sheets-Sheet 6 may FIG. I3

INVENTORL R J W Z W M N S R E O D T dfT A S E M A J May 9, 1967 J. c. DESHAZOR, JR 3,

CONNECTOR CLIP AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING UNITS WITH SAIDCLIP Original Filed April, 5, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 R J C R R m m N A wQ Q E m M EN 0 S 95 M m M EN 4 whm fiw wwN Y2 J4). $1. C :J? r

F P if 3% N ZTQRNEY V May 9, 1967 or: SHAZOR, JR 3,318,065

.C. CONNECTOR CLIP AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING UNITS WITHSAID CLIP Original Filed April 1965 l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. 20

F G. l9

389 INVENTOR JAM ES C. DESHAZOR, JR.

ATTORNEY May 9, 1967 J. c. DE SHAZOR, JR 3,318,065

CONNECTOR CLIP AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING UNITS WITH SAIDCLIP Original Filed April 5, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 I @9 3 j F I G. 30

INVENTOR.

JAMES C. DESHAZOR, J R.

ATTORNEY May 9, 1967 .1. c. DE SHAZOR, JR 3,318,055

CONNECTOR CLIP AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING UNITS WITH SAIDCLIP Original Filed April 5, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR. JAMES C.DESHAZOR JR.

a ATTORNEY 3,318,065 CONNECTOR CLIP AND METHOD AND APPARA- TUS FORASSEMBLING UNITS WITH SAID CLIP James C. De Shazor, Jr., 3314 Coy Drive,Sherman Oaks, Calif. 91403 Original application Apr. 3, 1963, Ser. No.270,341, now Patent No. 3,255,566. Divided and this application Oct. 7,1964, Ser. No. 412,273

9 Claims. (Cl. 53-48) This application is a division of US. Ser. No.270,341, filed Apr. 3, 1963, now Patent No. 3,255,566.

Application S.N. 270,341 is in turn a continuation-inpart of applicationSer. No. 100,618 filed Apr. 4, 1961, now abandoned and application Ser.No. 174,655 filed Feb. 12, 1962.

This invention is directed to a connector clip, and methods andapparatus for assembling multiple units into a package form with theconnector clip, and is particularly adapted to assembling containerssuch as conventional cans into multiple unit packages.

For the sake of brevity, certain portions of the specification ofapplication Ser. No. 270,341, of which this application is a division,have been deleted from this specification. However, for completeness,reference is made throughout this specification to the disclosure inapplication Ser. No. 270,341 and such portions are hereby incorporatedby reference.

In the drawings I have shown the present preferred embodiments of myinvention in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of the front side of the present apparatuswith parts removed for clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective of a modified form of the can transfer andcontrol assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the assembly as shown in FIGURE 2with the transfer assembly in advanced position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective of a first form of an orientation assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective of a second form of the orientation assembly;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective of a fifth form of the orientation assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a cross section taken on line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective of a sixth form of the orientation assembly;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a cross section of a vacuum chuck;

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view, partly in cross section, of a gear box forrotating the chucks of the orientation assembly;

FIGURE 13 is a cross section through the gear box and electromagneticchucks forming part of the orientation assembly, taken on line 13-13 ofFIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a top plan view, partly in cross section, of a modifiedgear box for rotating the chucks of the orientation assembly;

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view of a lift plate forming part of themechanical orientation assembly;

FIGURE 16 is a cross section of the lift plate, taken on line 16-16 ofFIGURE 15;

plan view of the assembly shown in 3,318,065 Patented May 9, 1967 FIGURE17 is a cross section of the lift plate, taken on line 17-17 of FIGURE15;

FIGURE 18 is a vertical cross section through a transducer sensing head,taken on line 18-18 of FIGURE 5, forming part of the modifiedorientation assembly;

FIGURE 19 is a bottom plan view of a pressure pad for applying clips tothe top of the containers at the clip application station;

FIGURE 20 is a cross section of the pressure pad shown in FIGURE 19,taken on line 22-20 of FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 21 is a cross section of the pressure pad shown in FIGURE 19,taken on line 21-21 of FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 22 is a cross section similar to central portion of FIGURE 20,showing a modified form of pressure P FIGURE 23 is a top plan view of apressure pad for applying clips to the bottom of the containers at theclip application station;

FIGURE 24 is a cross section taken on line 24-24 of FIGURE 23;

FIGURE 25 is a cross FIGURE 23;

FIGURE 26 is an enlarged perspective, with parts removed for clarity, ofa clip feeding assembly for supplying clips to the bottom clip pressurepad at the clip application station;

FIGURE 27 is a side elevation view, with parts removed for clarity, ofthe assembly shown in FIGURE 26, at the start of the clip feeding cycle;

FIGURE 28 is similar to FIGURE 27, showing the clip feeding cycle at apoint just prior to deposition of the clip on the bottom pressure pad;

FIGURE 29 is similar to FIGURE 27, showing the clip feeding cycle at thepoint when the clip has been deposited on the bottom pressure pad;

FIGURE 30 is similar to FIGURE 27, showing the clip feeding clip cycleat point midway in the return stroke preparatory to receiving anotherclip for the next clip feeding cycle;

The connector clip, or connector unit, employed in various embodimentsof this invention is comprised of a body of resiliently flexible plasticmaterial for positioning at the center of a plurality of symmetricallypositioned cans, the body having a radial portion to overlap each can ofthe plurality of c-ans, each of the radial portions being formed with ashoulder on its underside to engage the inner side of the bead of thecorresponding can, each of the radial portions being formed with aplurality of downwardly extending, resiliently flexible, hook-shapedteeth to hook under the outer circumferential shoulder of the bead ofthe corresponding can, each of the radial portions being formed with aplurality of downwardly extending, resiliently flexible, hook-shapedteeth to hook under the outer circumferential shoulder of the head ofthe corresponding can, said plurality of teeth comprising at least onetooth on the two halves respectively of the radial portion, said body ofplastic material being completely pre-formed for effective engagementwith the plurality of cans simply by merely forcing the body against theends of the cans to cause each of said teeth to flex outward to passsaid outer circumferential shoulder of a can and then to flex inwardinto engagement with the circumferential shoulder.

section taken on line 25-25 of 3 For details of the connector clip,reference is hereby made to FIGURES 1 through 14 of application Ser. No.270,341 and that portion of the specification of application Ser. No.270,341 titled Clip.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY The containers are fed into the machine on an infeedconveyor, to a can transfer and control assembly, which transfers thecontainers to a main conveyor, which in turn sequentially moves thecontainers to an optional orientation assembly, to orient the containersto a desired position, a top clip application station, to apply a clipto the top of the containers, and a bottom clip application station, toapply a clip to the bottom of the containers, to form a multiplecontainer package.

My preferred embodiment shows a machine for simultaneously packagingtwelve cans to form two six-can packages, however, it is understood thatthis machine can package from two to almost an unlimited number of canssimultaneously to form packages comprising two or more cans each. Mypreferred embodiment also shows the cans being initially fedtransversally in a double row from one side of the machine, however, myinvention includes an in-line feed directly from the infeed conveyor tothe main conveyor, or the simultaneous transverse feed- ,ing of cansfrom two infeed conveyors (located on opposite sides of the mainconveyor) onto the main conveyor, or the transverse or in-line feedingof only a single row of cans to the main conveyor.

Conveyor system FIGURE 1 illustrates the basic machine frame with themain convey-or system mounted thereon. This conveyor system includes apair of conveyor chains 169, preferably spaced between 2"2 /2" apart andideally about 2%" apart, and having a top surface with a low coefficientof friction such as steel. Spaced lugs 170 are affixed to the uppersurface of each conveyor chain 169 for a purpose to be describedhereinafter. The lugs on the spaced chains are transversely aligned tofunction as a single cross bar. The pairs of lugs are equally spacedalong the conveyor chain to provide sufiicient space between the lugs onthe chains to receive the desired number of containers between the lugs.The lugs are spaced such that the containers fit between the pairs oflugs but the containers cannot move appreciably by sliding along theconveyor chains. The conveyor chains 169 are continuous and pass aroundpairs of sprockets 171 mounted on shafts rotatable in pillow blocks 172integral with the frame. The pairs of sprockets 171 are four in numberand move the conveyor chains in a generally rectangular path in adirection moving from left to right on the top horizontal run as viewedin FIGURE 1. The conveyor chains pass along an upper substantiallyhorizontal run to the exit end of the apparatus shown in the right handend of FIGURE 1, downwardly in a vertical run over idler sprockets 171shown in the lower right hand portion of FIGURE 1, along a lowerhorizontal run around a second pair of lower sprockets 171 and upwardlyin a ver tioally inclined run around the top sprockets to the entranceend of the machine.

A motor and speed control (not shown), of conventional construction,provides the driving force for the main conveyor chains 169. This motorand speed control drives a Hilliard clutch (not shown), of conventionalconstruction. The Hilliard clutch operates for a single revolution andthen stops until again actuated to repeat the cycle. The clutch isdriven by the motor and speed control by suitable conventional sprocketsand chains. The clutch drives one of the pairs of sprockets 171 which inturn drive the conveyor chains 169. Preferably this drive mechanismprovides an acceleration and deceleration curve in the form of a sinewave thereby minimizing starting and stopping shock to articles on themain conveyor system. The Hilliard clutch is normally locked i instopped position by a pneumatic operated progression advance cylinder.This cylinder is automatically actuated by the main machine timercontrol system to release the clutch for a single revolution.

A dogging system is provided on the main drive shaft for the sprockets171. This dogging system consists of a circular plate rotatable with themain drive shaft and having a single dogging notch in its periphery. Apneumatically operated dog (not shown) is activated by a progressionlock cylinder. This cylinder is automatically actuated by the mainmachine timer control system to move the dog outwardly to permit thecircular dogging plate to move in unison with the main drive shaft. Thedog rides on the periphery of the circular plate until the notch isencountered, at which time the dog enters the notch. The entry of thedog into the notch is simultaneous with the completion of .a singlerevolution by the Hilliard clutch. The function of the dogging system isto ensure exact, repetitive positioning of the conveyor chains 169 andthe containers on the chain.

There is an infeed conveyor, cam counter and control mechanism shown inFIGURES 20 to 24, inclusive, of application Ser. No. 270,341, in thespecification of the application in the portion entitled InfeedConveyor.

Container transfer and control assembly The infeed conveyor (see FIGURES18 and 20 through 24 of application Serial No. 270,341) moves thecontainers to a container transfer and control assembly shown in FIGURES2 and 3.

A pusher plate 230 is affixed to a piston rod 231 operated by apneumatic cylinder 232 mounted on the machine frame. Introduction ofpressurized air to the rear end of cylinder 232, moves the pusher platetransversely of the infeed conveyor transferring the cans from theinfeed conveyor to the main conveyor in the manner hereinbeforedescribed. The cans enter the can transfer and control assembly on theinfeed conveyor in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE 2 and arestopped by the stop plate 214. The cutoff plate 215 is attached at aright angle to pusher plate 230 and functions in the same manner aspreviously described.

A top transfer plate 233 is pivotally mounted at 234 to the top edge ofpusher plate 230. One end of a connector rod 235 is pivotally afiixed tothe top surface of the top transfer plate 233 and the other end of therod is pivotally afiixed at 236 to a stationary part of the machineframe. A V-shaped bottom transfer plate 237 is affixed to the undersideof the top transfer plate 233 and engages the sides of the cans awayfrom the pusher plate 233. A can divider 238 is affixed to the midpointof the underside of the top transfer plate 233 and extends downwardbetween the cans to prevent chiming of the cans as previously described.

A second cover plate 239 is positioned over the main conveyor 152 and ispivotally mounted at 240 along one of its edges to a stationary part ofthe machine frame. A spring 241 is afiixed at one end to the top of thecover plate and at the other end to a stationary part of the machineframe. The spring is in extended condition as shown in FIGURE 2 andbiases the cover plate upward in a swinging motion about pivot 240 tothe position shown in FIGURE 3 when the cover plate is released butstopped by a stop 240a.

When pressurized air is introduced into the right hand end (FIGURE 3) ofcylinder 232, the piston rod 231 moves the pusher plate 230 toward theleft thereby pushing the cans from the infeed conveyor to the mainconveyor as shown in FIGURE 3. The rod 235 swings the top transferupward about pivot 235 thereby releasing cover plate 239 to permitspring 241 to pivot the cover plate 239 upward. The final positions ofthe plates are shown in FIGURE 3. The outer edge of top transfer plate233 overlies a part of cover plate 239 so that upon retraction of thepusher plate 230, by introducing pressurized air into the left hand side(FIGURE 3) of cylinder 232, transfer plate 233 forces cover plate 239down ward against the force of spring 241 to the position shown inFIGURE 2. The cycle is then repeated.

A micro-switch 209 is also provided on the assembly shown in FIGURES 2and 3 for activation by pusher plate 230.

Orientation assembly My preferred embodiment is arranged for rotating 12chucks simultaneously to orient 12 cans. This assembly can be operatedfor less than 12 cans or can be increased in size to orient anindefinite number of cans depending upon the size and construction whichone desires to build.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a part of the preferred embodiment of the orientingassembly 153 and shows an electromagnetic constantly rotating chuck 243,the internal structural features of which are shown in cross section inFIGURE 13. This chuck 243 includes a central core 244 attached to adrive shaft 245, an arbor 246 afiixed to the lower end of the core 244and a cap 247 aflixed to the upper end of the core with a shell 248forming side walls around the core. Cap 247 has a positive metal ring249 and a negative metal ring 250 against which carbon brushes 251 rideto supply electrical power for activating the electromagnetic field inthe chuck created by Wire windings 244a. The drive shaft 245 enters anorientation gear housing 252 suspended above the main conveyor bysupports 253 aflixed to the main machine frame. The housing consists ofa base plate 254 aflixed by bolts to a cover plate 255. Suitablebearings 256 mounted in the base and cover plates rotatably receive thedrive shaft 245. A gear 257 is keyed to the drive shaft 245. The gears257 on each of the drive shafts mesh thereby insuring the direction ofrotation shown in FIGURE 12. It should be noted that each of the chucksare rotated in an opposite direction to the adjacent chuck. This typerotation is useful and effective when using the orientation assembliesshown in FIGURES 4 and 5. In FIGURE 14, I have shown a gear arrangementhaving idler gears 258 mounted within the housing 252 on shafts toprovide rotation of all gears 257 and associated chucks in the samedirection as shown by the arrows in FIGURE 14. This arrangement permitsrotation of the chucks in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURE 14or all in a reverse direction from the arrows shown in FIGURE 14dependent upon the direction of rotation of the actuating motor, or thepulley belt arrangement. One of the shafts 245 extends upward throughthe cover plate 255 to provide an integral shaft extension 259 to whichis keyed a pulley 260 driven by a motor with suitable belt connection.If a reversal of direction of rotation of gears 257 is desired, the beltis formed in a figure 8.

Referring to FIGURE 4, the electromagnetic chuck attracts the ferrouscontainer to the chuck after the container has been slightly elevatedabove the main conveyor. The electromagnetic chuck is constantlyrotating, therefore upon attraction of the ferrous container to thechuck, the container immediately commences rotation until released fromthe chuck.

Referring now to FIGURES 4, 15, 16 and 17, I have shown the orientationlift plate which elevates the cans above the main conveyor. The platedimensions are such that width-wise the plate can move vertically in thegap between the chains of the main conveying system, and is of a lengthsufiicient to accommodate the number of cans which are to be oriented.In my preferred embodiment shown in the figures, I have shown a platesufliciently long to accommodate twelve cans for simultaneousorientation.

The lift plate includes a base plate 263 having a plurality ofdetachable inserts 264 afiixed to the base plate by screws. The insertsare circular plates covering about a 120 arc and having a flat centralportion 265 and an upraised peripheral ridge 266 as shown in FIGURE 17.The upraised ridge 266is flat on its upper edge and has a sloped outerface 267. The container or can is received on the insert plate in themanner shown in dash lines in FIGURE 17 with the bottom rim, bead orchime 268 positioned outside the ridge 266 and the lower edge of chime268 being supported by an arcuate plate 269 affixed and conforming tothe arcuate shape of insert 264. The bottom of the container or can doesnot engage the upper edge of ridge 266. The base plate 263 is connectedto a piston rod extension 270 which in turn is aflixed to a piston rodof a pneumatic orientation lift cylinder 271 mounted below the baseplate and pivotally mounted to the main machine frame. Cross supportplates 272 and a longitudinally support plate 273 form part of thesecondary main machine frame and are affixed to the machine frame. Thebase plate 263 has downwardly extending integral guide rods 274 atspaced locations on each side of the cylinder 271 and are slidablyreceived within ball bushings 275 mounted in a sleeve 276 aflixed tosupport plate 273. The lower end of each guide rod 274 is headed and hasa rubber washer. Upon actuation of the cylinder 271,the base plate andinserts are elevated until the head on the guide rods 274 engage thelower end of sleeve 276 to provide a positive stop for the elevation ofthe plate.

The plate shown in FIGURES 4, 15, 16 and 17 is particularly directed tomy preferred embodiment using a mechanical orientation stop to bedescribed hereinafter.

I have shown in FIGURE 4 a typical can having a steel body and steel topand bottom. The body is seamed in a conventional manner to form avertical seam 277 and the top and end portions of the can are attachedto the body by a crimping action which results in a bump 278 along thebead or chime 268 of the can. This bump varies in the extent of itsprotrusion from the chime 268 but typically is about .011" in a steelcan and between about .007.008 in an aluminum can. The embodiment shownin FIGURE 4 utilizes this protruding bump for purposes of orienting thecan. The mechanical orienting stop is located between the cans when theyare positioned on the lift plate and an additional mechanical orientingstop is located at the right hand (forward) end of the lift plate asshown in FIGURE 15. Thus, in my preferred embodiment, every insert plate264 has an orienting mechanical stop immediately adjacent its outsidesurface and inclined surface 267. These orienting stops are shown in anenlarged cross section in FIGURE 17. The insert plate 264 is rigidlymounted on the backing plate 263 of the lift plate by screws 279 or thelike and a pointed carbide mechanical orientation stop 280 is located ashort distance from the edge of the insert plate as shown in FIGURE 17.The spacing between the vertical wall of the insert plate and thevertical wall and point of the orientation stop 280 is only sufficientto receive the chime or bead 268 of the can but not sufficiently wide topass the bump 278 on the chime or head 268. Thus, as the can is rotated,the bump 278 comes into engagement with the rounded point of theorientation stop 280 and rotation of the can is stopped. After rotationof the can is stopped in this manner, the magnetic chuck continues torotate and slide on the top of the can until the electromagnetic chuckis de-energized.

The mechanical orientation stop 280 is normally shimmed outwardly byshim stock 281 from a spacer stop 282 to compensate for wear. Theorientation stop 280, shim stock 281 and spacer stop 282 are covered bya washer 283 which is affixed to the base plate 263 by a screw 284 orthe like.

As will be described hereinafter in more detail, I have provided atiming circuit for all the chucks such that the chucks are demagnetizedafter a period of time limited to that period sufiicient to permit aboutone 360 rotation of the cans. Thus, as the lift plate is elevated, theelectromagnetic chuck engages the can for rotation for a time period atleast sufiicient to permit one 360 rotation prior to being de-energizedto release the can. For example:

assume the chucks are rotating at a constant speed of 300 rpm, thechucks are automatically de-energized to release the cans afterone-fifth of a second. This one-fifth of a second permits one revolutionof the chuck and attracted can, thereby insuring that the bump 278 onthe chime 268 of the can will engage the orientation stop 280 and orientthe can in the desired position dependent on the position of themechanical orientation stop 280. If the bump on the can is positionedinitially immediately over the orientation stop, the can will not rotateat all and will merely be released from the magnetic chuck upondeactivation of the chuck. This timing can also be accomplished on themaster cam by timing the activation of the lefting cylinder and themagnets.

The distance between the upper edge of the insert plate and theunderside of the chuck which engages the top of the chime of the can isslightly greater than the distance between these two points on the can.Thus, the magnetic chuck slightly raises the can off the upper ridge ofthe insert plate insuring free rotation of the can. Thus, upondeactivation of the magnetic chuck, the can is dropped a short distancefrom the magnetic chuck.

The orientation stops 280 can be located in any desired position alongthe insert plate to give desired orientation of the cans. Typically thecans contain a trade name or trademark for the products contained in thecan and it is desired to orient the cans such that the trademark ortrade name is facing outwardly of the ultimate package and the seam ofthe can is hidden from the view of the purchaser. I have also found thatin orienting a product such as a six-can pack, it is desirable to orientthe end cans on the six-pack with the trademark or trade name facing atan angle to the end of the package so that the trademark or trade nameis visible from either a side inspection of the package or an endinspection of the package by the consumer.

After the cans have been oriented, pressurized air is fed to the top ofthe cylinder 271 to lower the orientation lift plate to a retractedposition below the main conveyor thereby depositing the oriented cans onthe main conveyor. The main conveyor is then activated in itsintermittent operation to move the oriented cans to the top clippingstation.

In FIGURE I have shown an alternative form of orientation assembly foruse on all ferrous top cans and particularly those which do not have abump on the chime. In this construction the magnetic chuck is identicalto that hereinbefore described and operates to magnetically attract androtate the can whene it is fabricated from steel. The orientation liftplate which I use in this assembly is a plain plate 286 movablevertically by a pneumatic cylinder mounted on the machine from below theplate. It is not necessary that this plate be vertically moving if themagnetic chucks have sufficient power to lift the cans from the mainconveyor, however, I prefer to vertically lift the cans into engagementwith the rotating chuck. I have found that if the magnetic chucks arelocated only a short distance from the top of the cans, the cans can beattracted to the chucks without the necessity of the vertical liftplate.

In the construction shown in FIGURE 5, I have utilized a transducersensing head as shown in cross section in FIGURE 18. This transducersensing head is of conventional construction and includes a centralprobe 287 integral with a permanent magnet 288 and an electrical coil289 surrounding the probe. The transducer is housed within an outersleeve 290, an inner sleeve 291, and a nose sleeve 292 through which theprobe extends. An epoxy resin disc 293 is utilized to insulate thepermanent magnet 289 from the sleeve 291. The probe is spring-biasedoutwardly by a spring 294. Suitable supports are provided from themachine frame to hold the transducer in proper position relative to therotating cans.

The transducer is placed in close proximtiy to the side wall of the cansuch that it can detect the passage of the vertical seam 277 which hasfour metal thicknesses. The transducer is provided with suitableelectrical connections to a timer and relay, such as a Reed relay, whichdisconnects the electrical power to the magnetic chucks therebyreleasing the can in an oriented position. The relay not onlyde-activates the magnetic chucks but can activate an AC. current to killresidual magnetism in the chucks. The operation of the transducer iswell understood in that it senses the several layers of steel located inthe vertical seam 277 of the side wall of the can.

In FIGURE 32 of application Ser. No. 270,341, which is hereby referredto I have shown an orientation assembly similar to FIGURE 5 with theexception that it is utilized on an aluminum can.

I have illustrated the vacuum head in cross section in FIGURE 11. Thegear housing 252 for driving the vacuum chuck is identical to thatpreviously described with the exception that the drive shaft of thevacuum chuck must be connected to a vacuum source. The drive shaft 245extends through the base plate 256 of the gear housing and is modifiedto have a central bore 297 connected to a vacuum source. The lower endof the drive shaft is splined or keyed to a core bar 298 such that thecore bar forms an integral part of the drive shaft. A plurality ofspaced passages 299 are provided around the lower end of drive shaft 245and provide communication between the bore 297 of the drive shaft and arecessed portion 300 on. the top of the core bar. The passages 299 arecircumferentially spaced from each other around the drive shaft 240. Thecore bar also has a central bore 301 forming a continuation of the bore297 of the drive shaft and extends downwardly to the lower face 302 ofthe core bar. The bore 301 reduces to a lesser diameter in opening intothe face 302. A cup-shaped housing 303 is slideably mounted on the driveshaft 245 and provided with an O ring 304 for sealing the slidinginterface between the housing and the drive shaft. The housing isinverted with its open end down and its closed end immediately above thecore bar 298. The lower end of the housing is partially closed by acover plate 305 which threads into the open lower end. A central openingin the cover plate slidably receives a necked portion 306 of the lowerend of the core bar. This necked portion is slidably sealed within theopening in the cover plate by an O ring. The lower face of the coverplate receives a spacing plate 307 which threads into a circularthreaded recess in the cover plate 305 and is locked into position bylocking pins 300 driven into aligned openings in the spacer plate, coverplate and lower face of the core bar. Thecore bar is slidable verticallyon the locking pins. The core bar has an internal flanged portion 309which receives a large 0 ring to slidably seal the interface between theflanged portion 309 of the core bar and the inside face of the housing303. Thus, the core bar functions like a fixed piston within thecylindrical housing formed by the housing 303 and the cover plate 305.

Upon the application of vacuum through the bore 297 in the drive shaft,the vacuum suction exerts a force through the passages 299 to thechamber immediately above the core bar and below the top of the housing303, thereby sucking the housing, face plate and spacer plate downwardlyuntil the spacing plate engages a can top located below the chuck. Oncethe spacer plate 307 has engaged the top of the can, the full effect ofthe suction force is exerted through the bore 301 in the core bar andprovides a suction within the concave opening of the spacing plate 307thereby drawing the can into tight contact with the plate and rotatingthe can in unison with the chuck. Preferably, the chuck is constantlyrotating. Upon release of the vacuum force from the bore of the driveshaft, a coil spring 312 that is compressed longitudinally in the areabetween the flanged portion 309 of the core bar and the top face 310 ofthe housing, exerts a spreading force between the housing and core bar,thereby 9 elevating the housing to the position shown inFIGURE 11 whicheffects a release of the can from the vacuum chuck and an elevation ofthe vacuum chuck out of contact with the can.

In FIGURE 31, of application Ser. No. 270,341 I have shown analternative form of my orienting assembly for use on ferrous metal canshaving a prominent vertical seam. The electromagnetic constantlyrotating chuck is identical to that previously described or a vacuumchuck as shown in FIGURE 11 may be used.

The details of the feelers are shown in FIGURES 48- 50 of applicationSer. No. 270,341, and are described in that specification.

FIGURES 6-8 illustrate an alternative mode of rotating the cans fororientation purposes. The various mechanical and electrical stop devicesand sensing devices previously described in this specification and inapplication Ser. No. 270,341 are usable with the can drive mechanismshown in these drawings. This type drive mech anism is particularlyadapted for use with containers which do not have a substantially flattop such as aerosol cans. A rotary shaft 345 is positioned along eachside of the main conveyor at the orientation station. This shaft hasarcuate cut out portions 346 spaced from each other by flat lands 347.The number of arcuate portions is equal to the number of cans onedesires to orient. Both ends of the shafts are rotatably mounted inpillow blocks 348 which are afiixed to a support bar 349 swingablymounted on pin 350 affixed to a stationary portion of the machine frame.The support bars and shafts 345 are moved transversely toward and awayfrom the main conveyor by pneumatic cylinders 351 controlled by the mainmachine timer. A motor 352 is mounted on each support plate to rotatethe shaft 345. Preferably the motors are operated constantly but may beintermittently operated.

Each arcuate portion 346 has an integral drive thread 353 extending in aspiral configuration around the innermost part of the portion. Thethread is at an oblique angle to the axis of revolution of shaft 345.The thread is preferably a high coelficient of friction material such asrubber. The thread extends radially outward from the arcuate portion andengages the cans when the shafts 345 are moved to an inward position asshown in the drawings.

As the shafts 345 are rotated on a horizontal axis, the threads 353engage the sides of the cans and cause rotation of the cans about theirvertical axes. Since the cans are trapped within the arcuate portions,they merely rotate until their rotation is stopped by the mechanicalstops such as I have previously described hereinabove. The shafts 345are moved to an outward position, clear of the main conveyor, to releasethe cans for movement to the top clip application station.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate an alternative can rotating asembly to thatshown in FIGURES 6-8. This alternative assembly is usable in the samemanner and arrangements previously described with respect to FIGURES6-8. A plurality of rollers 355 are driven by integral shafts which inturn are driven by motors 356. The motors, drive mechanism, and rollersare mounted on a support plate 357 swingably mounted for movement towardand away from the main conveyor. This swinging movement is accomplishedin the same manner as previously described by a pneumatic cylinder 358.A suflicient number of rollers are provided to engage and rotate everycan.

The operation at the orientation station, when the cans have steelbodies and ends, using the electromagnetic chuck and the orientationlift plate shown in FIGURES and 16, is controlled by the main machinetimer control as described in application Ser. No. 270,341.

The transducer sensing head cannot be used with the friction chuck,therefore, the use of the transducer is limited to the mechanical,magnetic and vacuum chucks.

The transducer sensing head, shown in cross section in FIGURE 18,preferably receives 27 volt DC. current into the coil. The permanentmagnet 288 and probe 287 are made from a mumetal (or alloy) capable ofdetecting differences in magnetic fields in its immediate area. The can,rotating near the probe, has a normal metal wall 5 thickness of about0.15 while the vertical seam has four metal thicknesses totalling about.060". Thus, there is a sharp change in the magnetic field between thenormal side walls and the vertical seam. The coil 289 of the transduceris a sensitive detection system for changes in the magnetic fieldadjacent the probe and will change the voltage a minimum of .3 to 5volts as applied to a timer relay. This voltage variation trips anadjustable timer circuit that is present to allow /2 revolution of can(less the delay time factor inherent in the circuitry) before release ofthe can from the chuck. At the end of the preset time, the timer circuitoperates a Reed type relay (conventional high speed relay) thatde-energizes the holding magnets in the electromagnetic chuck orreleases the can from the mechanical or vacuum chucks, whichever thecase may be. The Reed" relay can also introduce an AC. current into theelectromagnetic chucks if hysteresis occurs. The end of the probe 287normally must be within 44 of the can for proper operation.

The more sensitive transducer, for use on aluminum cans with a magneticink marking 277, does not require an impressed voltage on the coil 289of the transducer to function as above described. The impressed voltageis unnecessary because the aluminum can side wall does not produce asignal as is the case with the ferrous can side wall and the ink markingwill produce a clear signal upon passing the probe.

Top and bottom clip application stations .The cans after orientation aremoved to the top clipping station (see FIGURE 15, application Ser. No.270,- 341) and the cans of the top clipping station are simultaneouslytransferred to the bottom clipping station. The function of the top andbottom clipping stations is to engage the top and/or bottom of theoriented cans with 4 the connecting clip or clips to form a package.Although it is well known to clip a plurality of cans together to form apackage unit, I have found that it is desirable to provide a connectorclip for both the bottom and the top of the cans.

FIGURE 52 of application Ser. No. 270,341 shows a side elevation view ofthe top and bottom clipping stations and FIGURE 53 of application Ser.No. 270,341 shows an end elevation view of the clipping stations viewedfrom the right hand side of FIGURE 52, with some parts removed forclarity.

Each clipping unit includes a pneumatic cylinder 360 (FIGURE 20) whichis operable for extruding and retracting of a piston rod 361. Suitablesupplies of pressurized air are provided to the upper and lower ends ofthe pneumatic cylinder 360 for actuation of the internal piston upwardlyor downwardly as desired. The pneumatic cylinder 360 is attached to theframe of the machine by suitable angle irons in a conventional manner.The lower end of the piston rod has an integral pressure pad 362 whichwill be described in more detail in FIGURES 19-22. Guide pins 363 areintegral with the top side of the pressure pad 362 and extend upwardlythrough and are slidably received within an oilite bearing housed withinan end plate 364 afiixed to the lower end of pneumatic cylinder 360.Each guide pin 363 is headed to limit the downward movement of thepressure pad. The main conveyor has two parallel chains with a centralopening between the chains. A rigid stationary bumper plate '(FIG- URE52, application Ser. No. 270,341) is positioned in this opening and issuitably supported by riser from the frame of the machine.

The bottom clipping station pneumatic cylinders are double acting andextend upwardly from the machine frame where they are mounted onmounting plates in- 75 tegral with the frame. The cylinders are suppliedwith pressurized air at their upper and lower ends. The piston rod ofthe pneumatic cylinder has an integral pressure pad on the upper end anda guide pin (see FIGURE 52 of application Ser. No. 270,341) is integralwith the bottom face of the pressure pa-d and passes downward in slidingrelationship through an oilite bearing housed in a mounting plate. Thepressure pads are described in more detail in FIGURES 60-62 ofapplication Ser. No. 270,341.

Mounted above the pressure pad and slightly above the top of the cans onthe main conveyor is a bumper plate 373, (FIGURE 52, application Ser.No. 270,341). The cans are pushed against this plate when the pneumaticcylinders 367 are actuated to elevate pads 367 and supply the connectorclip for clipping the bottom of the cans. The bumper plate receives apair of spaced threaded bolt risers which thread into openings on thetop side of the bumper plate and the bolts pass through a mounting plateintegral with the frame of the machine. This mounting plate is the lowerflange of an H beam. A tubular riser is positioned around each of thebolts and spaces the bumper plate from the flange of the H beam andsuitable washers are positioned around the riser tube to locate theriser tube with respect to the flange of the H beam. A change riser ispositioned around the bolt immediately above the flange of the H beamand a washer on the upper end of the bolt against the head of the boltthereby providing a rigid stationary support for the bumper plate.

Referring to FIGURES 19-22, the piston rod 361 of pneumatic cylinder 360is affixed to pressure pad 362 to move the pad vertically whenpressurized fluid is admitted and exhausted from the ends of thecylinder 360. The end plate 364 extends outwardly from the cylinder asviewed in FIGURE 20 and slidably receives the spaced pair ofdiametrically opposed guide rods 363 which guide the pressure pad 362d-uring its vertical movement. Since the guide rods 36 3 are headed,they provide a limit to the downward movement of the pressure pad 362.The central portion of the pressure pad includes an immovablerectangular plate 378 held in position by a pair of spaced headed pins379 extending through openings in the pressure pad 362 and suitablysecured thereto by screws and the like. The pins 379 have large flatheads which fit into the spaced openings 72, 74, in the clip shown indashed lines in the figures. The heads of the pins are slightly ovalsuch that the heads can be wedged into the openings in the clip andprovide sutficient friction holding on the clip so that the clip may bepicked up in the manner to be described hereinafter. The heads of thepins slightly distort the round holes in the clips. Mounted around theperiphery of the plate 378 are six can aligning pads 380. Each of thesepads 38 has an arcuate peripheral portion 381 with a downwardly directedlip 382 which fits into and engages the top of the can as shown inFIGURE 21. The can aligning pads 380 located on the long side of theplate 378 have a peripheral arcuate length of about 190 degreessufficient to engage a major portion of the can top. The four canaligning plates 380 located at the ends of the plate 378 have aperipheral arcuate length of about 290. Each of the can aligning platesis movably supported to the plate 362 in the manner shown in FIG- URE21. Each can aligning plate has an integral rod 384 extending upwardlyfrom the plate and is slidably received in an opening 385 in plate 362.A pair of spaced diametrically-opposed aligning pins 386 extend throughspecial openings 387 in the plate 362 and are received into threadedopenings in the can aligning plate 380. Pins 386 are headed to limit thedownward movement of the plates 38!) relative to plate 362. A pair ofsprings 388 are received into spring seats bored in the underface ofplate 362 and top face of plate 380. These springs are constantly incompression and bias the can-aligning plate 380 to a downward positionas shown in FIGURE 21. When the pressure pad is brought down intoengagement with cans supported on the main conveyor, the can aligningplates 380 resiliently engage the top of the cans in the manner shown inFIGURE 21, thereby properly positioning the cans relatively to the clipshown in dashed lines in FIGURE 19, such that an accurate and completeattachment of the clip to the cans can occur by the proper clip partsbeing aligned directly above the chime or bead of the cans to which theclip is to be attached.

FIGURE 22 shows a modified form of the pressure pad in which the centralrectangular plate 389 (for positioning the clip on the pad) is movablymounted relative to the plate 362. In this embodiment the rectangularplate is maintained in a spaced position from the plate 362 and the pins379 are mounted in ball bushings 391 to provide relative movementbetween the plates 362 and 389. Thus, as the modified pressure pad asshown in FIGURE 22 is moved down for a clipping operation, the clip,which is held by the heads on pins 379, engages the can slightly beforethe can aligning plates 380 engage the top of the cans. However, theclipping operation does not occur until the rectangular plate 389 ismoved upwardly into engagement with the lower face of the plate 362.This position would be analogous to the position shown in FIGURE 20 andthe clipping operation is effected between the clip and cans.

FIGURES 23-25 show the bottom pressure pad 370. The piston rod 369 isintegral with the pressure pad 370 through a threaded connection in thepad. The guide rod 371 is threadably received in the pressure pad and issupported from the cylinder as hereinabove described. The upper face ofthe pad is planar except for holes 392 for receiving retaining pins 393which hold the clip in position on the pressure pad. These pins arecircular and the upper face is bevelled or sloped downwardly from itsmid-point toward the edge as shown in cross section in FIGURE 25. Thesloped face of the pins is positioned toward the clip feeding assemblyto be described. Each pin has a downwardly extending shoulder portion394 which fits into the opening 392 in the top of the pressure pad and ascrew 395 extends through a central opening in the pin 393 andthreadably engages an opening in the pressure pad to maintain the pinson the pressure pads as shown in FIGURES 23-25.

Clip feeding assembly FIGURES 63-68 (of application Ser. No. 270,341)show the top clip feeding assembly and FIGURES 69-73 (of applicationSer. No. 270,341) show the bottom clip feeding assembly, and thesefigures and the associated disclosure are hereby incorporated byreference.

FIGURES 26-30 show the operation of the clip feeding assembly forsupplying a clip to the lower pressure pad 370 which clips the bottom ofthe cans. The operation of this assembly is substantially identical tothat described above with respect to the top clip feeding assembly forthe top pressure pad. The essential difierences are noted in the figuresand description and similar numerals indicate similar mechanisms. Theclips are supplied by the clip-feed chute angles 405 to a clip pusherplate 426. The essential difference between the bottom clip feedassembly and the top clip feed assembly previously described is that thebottom clip pusher plate is merely a flat plate sliding on asatisfactory plate 427. The bottom clip pusher plate 426 does not have astepped-down portion for feeding the clip but rather merely slides theclip over the stationary plate 427. The plate 427 extends to a positionimmediately adjacent the bottom pressure pad 370 as shown in FIGURES26-30. The forward end of pusher plate 426 has sidewall extensions 428and the clip being fed is located between the sidewalls and ahead of theplate 426. In FIGURE 28 I have shown the clip 429 in position forfeeding to the lower pressure pad 370. The clip 429 has been separatedfrom the stack of clips 430 in the angles 405. When pneumatic cylinder410 is activated, the pusher plate 426 pushes the clip 429 from left toright in FIGURE 27, While the picker finger 418 remains stationary dueto the lost motion connection between bolt 414 and the secondary pusherbar 415 as has been previously described. The picker finger support arm417 has an integral spring 431 extending in an opposed direction to thepicker finger and bent downward to engage the clip 429 during feeding asshown. As the clip 429 is pushed close to the pressure pad 370, the topof the clip is engaged by the outer end of the spring 431 at the clipmid-point (FIGURE 28). At this point, the shouldered bolt 414 hasreached the right-hand end of the slot 416 in the secondary pusher bar415, and further movement of the clip pusher plate 426 from left toright results in both the picker finger 418, spring 431 and clip 429moving from left to right in unison to the position shown in FIGURE 29.The picker finger thus is moved from its position immediately below thestack of clips 430 and the stack is permitted to fall downwardly ontothe top surface of the clip pusher bar 426; As the clip 429 moves fromthe position shown in FIGURE 28 to the position shown in FIGURE 29, itmust ride up over the pins 393 on the upper face of the bottom pressurepad 370. Since theupper face of each of the pins 393 is sloped, and thespring is hearing downwardly on the center of the clip 429, the clip issnapped down over the pins 393 to a stationary position as shown inFIGURE 29. As the pusher plate 426 moves from right to left on theretraction stroke, from the position shown in FIGURE 29 to the positionshown in FIGURE 30, the picker finger 418- and spring 431 remainstationary until the shoulder bolt 414 has reached the left-hand end ofthe slot 416 in the secondary pusher bar 415. At this point, the pickerfinger 418 and spring 431 commence movement from right to left in unisonwith the pusher plate 426, and the picker finger moves between thelowermost clip in the stack 430 and the next-to-lowermost clip, therebyreleasing the lowermost clip onto the top surface of pusher plate 426.The clip feed chute angles 405 extend down to a position immediatelyabove plate 426 thereby trapping the clip below the picker fingeragainst movement toward the left as the pusher plate 426 is furtherretracted. As the plate 426 is further retracted, the clip dropsdownward onto plate 427 preparatory for the next clip feeding cycle. Thefinal position of the clips and the picker finger is shown in FIGURE 27.

Clip transfer assembly FIGURES 80 and 81 of applicaiton Ser. No. 270,341show the clip transfer assembly for supplying racks of clips to the clipfeed chute angles and these figures and associated disclosure are hereinincorporated by reference.

Clip supplying assembly FIGURES 74-79 of application Ser. No. 270,341show the clip supplying assembly for feeding racks of clips to the clipfeeding assembly and these figures and associated disclosure areincorporated herein by reference.

Pneumatic system Electrical system FIGURE 84 of aplication Ser. No.270,341 shows a schematic of the electrical system used on the machine.and this figure and the associated specification is likewiseincorporated herein by reference.

Electronic orientation circuit FIGURE 85 of application Ser. No. 270,341is a schematic of the electronic orientation circuit and is incorporatedby reference along with the disclosure which describes it.

Modified form 0 machine FIGURE 82 of application Ser. No. 270,341 showsa modified form of my invention in which the clips are applied to thecans while in constant movement. The modification provides acontinuously operating machine operable normally at higher productionrates than the intermittent machine previously described. This is alsoincorporated herein 'by reference.

Timer cam profile FIGURE 86 is the timer cam profile and is shown inapplication Ser. No. 270,341 and is incorporated herein by reference.

While I have described my present preferred embodiments of my invention,many modifications and changes can be made within the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for transferring a plurality of cans havingsubstantially cylindrical sidewalls and integral top and bottom walls,including: a feed conveyor moving a succession of the cans in abuttingrows longitudinally on the conveyor with the axes of rotation of thecans being disposed vertically thereon; a support located at one end ofthe conveyor to receive the rows of cans: from the conveyor; avertically disposed, movable pusher plate located at one side of thesupport and parallel to the direction of movement of the rows of cans; astop plate located at a second side of the support transverse to thedirection of movement of the rows of cans to stop the movement of thecans when they abut the stop plate; power means operatively connected tothe pusher plate to move the pusher plate and cans on the supporttransversely of the feed conveyor; a second conveyor disposed adjacentthe support to receive the cans moved transversely by the power means; atop plate positioned above and substantially parallel to said support tooverlie the rows of cans positioned on the support; guide meansoperatively related to the top plate to guide the plate upwardly andtransversely of the feed conveyor; biasing means on the guide means tonormally maintain the top plate in a downward position engaging the topsof the cans positioned on the support; and a backing plate integral withthe underside of the top plate and engageable with the sides of the cansin one row away from the pusher plate; said pusher plate beingengageable with an edge of the top plate such that upon activation ofthe power means and movement of the pusher plate to transfer the cansthe top plate is moved upwardly and transversely of the feed conveyoruntil said backing plate is out of engagement with the side of the cansthereby permitting transverse transfer of the cans.

2. In an apparatus for articles above a feed path while rotating thearticles to a desired oriented position; including: a rotatable chuckcomprising: a vertically disposed drive shaft adapted to rotate aboutits longitudinal axis, a bore extending longitudinally through the shaftand adapted for connection with a vacuum source; a cup-shaped housing,opening downward, slidably mounted on the lower end of the drive shaft;a cover plate rigidly mounted across the opening in the housing to forma chamber within. the housing and plate; a core bar affixed to the lowerend of the drive shaft and disposed within the housing, the bar beingsmaller vertically than the height of said chamber such that the housingis movable vertically relative to the shaft and core bar; a lowerperipheral portion of the core bar providing a piston-like sliding sealbetween the core bar and inside surface of the housing; a biasing meansdisposed between the housing and the core bar to normally bias thehousing upwardly from the core bar; a second bore communicating betweenthe bore of the drive shaft and the chamber in the housing whereby uponapplication of said vacuum source, the housing is moved downward intocontact with the core bar; and, a third core communicating between thebore in the drive shaft and orienting articles by holding the I thebottom face of the cover plate such that upon application of said vacuumsource, the third bore supplies a suction at said bottom face of thecover plate to hold an article in contact with the cover plate androtate the article in unison with the rotation of the drive shaft.

3. In an apparatus for orienting a plurality of cans havingsubstantially cylindrical sidewalls and integral top and bottom walls,the bottom wall being connected to the sidewalls by a chime having asmall radially extending bump; including: a pair of spaced feedconveyors adapted to feed spaced rows of cans; an orienting stationlocated in the path of the feed conveyors, and including: a base platenormally positioned below the conveyors and movable vertically in thespace between the conveyors, said base plate having a plurality ofarcuate upstanding ribs engageable beneath individual cans located onthe feed conveyors to elevate the cans above the conveyors; anorientation stop aflixed to the base plate adjacent each rib andengageable only with said radially extending bump on the chime of eachcan; power means to move the base plate vertically in the space betweenthe conveyors; an orientation head located above the feed conveyors adistance slightly greater than the height of said cans, and directlyabove the base plate; said head including: power means to provide arotary motion about a vertical axis, a plurality of chucks mounted forrotation about individual vertical axes and actuatable by said powermeans in the head, one of said chucks being located above each of saidribs such that elevation of the base plate brings a can into engagementwith one of said chucks, and attraction means in each chuck to attractand hold a can slightly above the rib underlying the can, such that uponrotation of the chuck, the attracted can is also rotated until the bumpon the chime of the can engages said orientation stop.

4. In an apparatus for forming a package unit by uniting a plurality ofcans with a connector unit, comprising: as assembling station,including: feed conveyors to supply a pair of parallel rows of cans tosaid station; a top uniting assembly positioned in the path of the feedconveyors and having a supply of said connector units, slide means forremoving a single connector unit from said supply and moving theconnector unit to a position over the feed conveyors, holding means toreceive the connector unit from the slide means and move the unit intoconnecting relationship with the top of a plurality of cans at theassembling station; a bottom uniting assembly positioned in the path ofthe feed conveyor adjacent the top uniting assembly, and having a supplyof said connector units, slide means for removing a single unit fromsaid supply and moving the connector unit to a position under the feedconveyors, and holding means to receive the connector unit from theslide means and move the unit into connecting relationship with thebottom of said plurality of cans which have previously been topconnected at the top uniting assembly.

5. In an apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said connector unitreleasably secures together a plurality of said cans each having at itsupper end a peripheral bead forming a downwardly facing outercircumferential shoulder; and said connector unit comprising: a body ofresiliently flexible plastic material for positioning at the center of aplurality of symmetrically positioned cans, the body having a radialportion to overlap each can of the plurality of cans, each of the radialportions being formed with a shoulder on its underside to engage theinner side of the bead of the corresponding can, each of the radialportions being formed with a plurality of downwardly extending,resiliently flexible, hook-shaped teeth to hook under the outercircumferential shoulder of the head of the corresponding can, each ofthe radial portions being formed with a plurality of downwardlyextending, resiliently flexible, hook-shaped teeth to hook under theouter circumferential shoulder of the bead of the corresponding can,said plurality of teeth comprising at least one tooth on the two halvesrespectively of the radial portion, said body of plastic material beingcompletely pre-formed for effective engagement with the plurality ofcans simply by merely forcing the body against the ends of the cans tocause each of said teeth to flex outward to pass said outercircumferential shoulder of a can and then to flex inward intoengagement with the circumferential shoulder.

6. In an apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: each of said suppliesof connector units includes a vertically disposed chute containing avertical stack of the units; slide means movable beneath said chute tomove a single connector unit from said chute to said holding means;finger means normally disposed beneath the connector units in the chute,and movable to a second position to release the supply of connectorunits to provide a single connector unit to said slide means; a lostmotion connection between said slide means and said finger means so thatthe finger means remains stationary beneath the stack of units duringthe major portion of the time period that the slide means is moving theconnector unit to the holding means and the lost motion connection isexhausted and moves the slide and finger means simultaneously during thefinal portion of the movement of the slide means, thereby moving thefinger means to said second position.

7. Apparatus for forming a multiple can package in which the beads atthe end portions of'adjacent cans are united by a connector clip havingprotruding elements for snapping over and locking the clip to the beads,comprising:

(a) a package-forming station;

(b) means at said station for mounting a clip in operative position;

(c) means for locating said clip and said can endportions in alignmentwith each other with some of said elements in abutting relationship withthe beads; and,

(d) means for relatively moving said mounting means and said stationrelative to each other to bring said clips and said container bead intocontact with each other to snap said elements over said beads to lockthe containers together to form a package;

(e) orientation means operatively related to said package formingstation and including:

(i) a shaft rotatable about the horizontal axis, a plurality ofperipheral pockets spaced along the shaft and of suflicient size toindividually receive said cans, a spiral outstanding thread aflixed ineach of the pockets and rotatable coaxially with said shaft; said threadbeing engageable with the can positioned in the pocket and adapted torotate the engaged can about a vertical axis upon rotation of the shaftabout its horizontal axis; and,

(ii) means to stop the rotation of the cans in a desired orientedposition.

8. An apparatus for orienting articles comprising: an orienting station;means operative to feed a plurality of articles to said station; meansoperative at the station to individually rotate each of said articlesabout a vertical axis; and including a magnetic chuck to attract andelevate each article above the feed means; power means to constantlyrotate each chuck; and timer means to reduce the magnetic attraction ofeach chuck to release the elevated article after a predeterminedrotation of each attracted article; and means operative at said stationto stop the rotation when each article is in its desired orientedposition.

9. An apparatus for orienting articles comprising: an orienting station,means operative to feed a plurality of articles to said station; meansoperative at the station to individually rotate each of said articlesabout a vertical axis and including a vacuum chuck to attract andelevate each article above the feed means; power means to constantlyrotate each chuck and timer means to reduce the 1 7 1 8 vacuumattraction in each chuck to release the elevated 2,528,912 11/1950Rappaport et all 1983j article after a predetermined rotation of eachattracted 2,548,743 4/1951 Schreiber 279-3 article; and, means operativeat said station to stop the 2,769,642 11/1956 Berry 279-3 X rotationwhen each article is in its desired oriented posi- 2,843,252 7/1958Eddison et a1. 198-33 tion. 5 2,929,181 3/1960 Poupitch 5348 XReferences fitted by the Examiner 3,144,740 8/1964 Erickson et a1. 5348UNITED STATES PATENTS ,196,589 7/1965 COOK 53-48 1,824,432 9/ 1931Hendry 53-452 X FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner. 2,042,733 6/1936Risser 279-3 2,345,884 4/1944 Powers et a1 279--3 X 10 s- BOUCHARD,Assistant Examiner.

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING A PLURALITY OF CANS HAVINGSUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL SIDEWALLS AND INTEGRAL TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS,INCLUDING: A FEED CONVEYOR MOVING A SUCCESSION OF THE CANS IN ABUTTINGROWS LONGITUDINALLY ON THE CONVEYOR WITH THE AXES OF ROTATION OF THECANS BEING DISPOSED VERTICALLY THEREON; A SUPPORT LOCATED AT ONE END OFTHE CONVEYOR TO RECEIVE THE ROWS OF CANS FROM THE CONVEYOR; A VERTICALLYDISPOSED, MOVABLE PUSHER PLATE LOCATED AT ONE SIDE OF THE SUPPORT ANDPARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE ROWS OF CANS; A STOP PLATELOCATED AT A SECOND SIDE OF THE SUPPORT TRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OFMOVEMENT OF THE ROWS OF CANS TO STOP THE MOVEMENT OF THE CANS WHEN THEYABUT THE STOP PLATE; POWER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE PUSHERPLATE TO MOVE THE PUSHER PLATE AND CANS ON THE SUPPORT TRANSVERSELY OFTHE FEED CONVEYOR; A SECOND CONVEYOR DISPOSED ADJACENT THE SUPPORT TORECEIVE THE CANS MOVED TRANSVERSELY BY THE POWER MEANS; A TOP PLATEPOSITIONED ABOVE AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SUPPORT TO OVERLIETHE ROWS OF CANS POSITIONED ON THE SUPPORT; GUIDE MEANS OPERATIVELYRELATED TO THE TOP PLATE TO GUIDE THE PLATE UPWARDLY AND TRANSVERSELY OFTHE FEED CONVEYOR; BIASING MEANS ON THE GUIDE MEANS TO NORMALLY MAINTAINTHE TOP PLATE IN A DOWNWARD POSITION ENGAGING THE TOPS OF THE CANSPOSITIONED ON THE SUPPORT; AND A BACKING PLATE INTEGRAL WITH THEUNDERSIDE OF THE TOP PLATE AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SIDES OF THE CANS INONE ROW AWAY FROM THE PUSHER PLATE; SAID PUSHER PLATES BEING ENGAGEABLEWITH AN EDGE OF THE TOP PLATE SUCH THAT UPON ACTIVATION OF THE POWERMEANS AND MOVEMENT OF THE PUSHER PLATE TO TRANSFER THE CANS THE TOPPLATE IS MOVED UPWARDLY AND TRANSVERSELY OF THE FEED CONVEYOR UNTIL SAIDBACKING PLATE IS OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SIDE OF THE CANS THEREBYPERMITTING TRANSVERSE TRANSFER OF THE CANS.
 4. IN AN APPARATUS FORFORMING A PACKAGE UNIT BY UNITING A PLURALITY OF CANS WITH A CONNECTORUNIT, COMPRISING: AS ASSEMBLING STATION, INCLUDING: FEED CONVEYORS TOSUPPLY A PAIR OF PARALLEL ROWS OF CANS TO SAID STATION; A TOP UNITINGASSEMBLY POSITIONED IN THE PATH OF THE FEED CONVEYORS AND HAVING ASUPPLY OF SAID CONNECTOR UNITS, SLIDE MEANS FOR REMOVING A SINGLECONNECTOR UNIT FROM SAID SUPPLY AND MOVING THE CONNECTOR UNIT TO APOSITION OVER THE FEED CONVEYORS, HOLDING MEANS TO RECEIVE THE CONNECTORUNIT FROM THE SLIDE MEANS AND MOVE THE UNIT INTO CONNECTING RELATIONSHIPWITH THE TOP OF A PLURALITY OF CANS AT THE ASSEMBLING STATION; A BOTTOMUNITING ASSEMBLY POSITIONED IN THE PATH OF THE FEED CONVEYOR ADJACENTTHE TOP UNITING ASSEMBLY, AND HAVING A SUPPLY OF SAID CONNECTOR UNITS,SLIDE MEANS FOR REMOVING A SINGLE UNIT FROM SAID SUPPLY AND MOVING THECONNECTOR UNIT TO A POSITION UNDER THE FEED CONVEYORS, AND HOLDING MEANSTO RECEIVE THE CONNECTOR UNIT FROM THE SLIDE MEANS AND MOVE THE UNITINTO CONNECTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOTTOM OF SAID PLURALITY OF CANSWHICH HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN TOP CONNECTED AT THE TOP UNITING ASSEMBLY.